Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Drug-Induced Senescence in Liver Cells Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization: Implications for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Associated Hepatotoxicity
09:32

Drug-Induced Senescence in Liver Cells Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization: Implications for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Associated Hepatotoxicity

Published on: October 17, 2025

Cutaneous adverse effects in patients treated with the multitargeted kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib

W J Lee1, J L Lee, S E Chang

  • 1Departments of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnapdong, Songpagu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.

The British Journal of Dermatology
|June 30, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The most common side effect of sorafenib and sunitinib is hand-and-foot skin reaction (HFSR). These kinase inhibitors cause various skin toxicities, with HFSR being the most frequent and serious adverse event.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Multitargeted kinase inhibitors like sorafenib and sunitinib improve solid tumor treatment but commonly cause cutaneous toxicity.
  • Renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma are solid tumors where these inhibitors show efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clinically assess cutaneous toxicities induced by oral multitargeted kinase inhibitors, specifically sorafenib and sunitinib.
  • To document the incidence and intensity of skin-related adverse events associated with these targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for 109 patients on sorafenib and 119 patients on sunitinib.
  • Collated clinical data on cutaneous toxicities, including hand-and-foot skin reaction (HFSR), alopecia, and stomatitis.
  • Statistical analysis of toxicity data to determine incidences, intensities, and correlations.

Main Results:

  • Hand-and-foot skin reaction (HFSR) was the most frequent cutaneous toxicity (48% with sorafenib, 36% with sunitinib).
  • Other toxicities included alopecia, stomatitis, skin discoloration, and xerosis.
  • HFSR and severe stomatitis often necessitated treatment modification; HFSR correlated significantly with alopecia and stomatitis development.

Conclusions:

  • Multitargeted kinase inhibitors present a significant risk of diverse cutaneous adverse events.
  • Hand-and-foot skin reaction (HFSR) is identified as the most common and severe skin toxicity associated with sorafenib and sunitinib therapy.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery13:19

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery

Published on: April 26, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Skin Cancer01:30

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include: